School Officials Respond to Islam Assignment

WALTON COUNTY, Ga. - FOX 5 News was first to tell you about the social studies Islamic assignments in Walton County that raised lots of eyebrows.

The worksheets include the tenets of Islam and Talk of Allah, which some parents said crosses the line and they should have been informed about the state curriculum that mandates it beforehand.

Parent Steve Alsup said it is important to tell the entire story about a religion.

"As far as Islam, they are not teaching them the radical side of Islam and they say they are not going to, which to me is half the truth. Especially in today's society, you turn the news on every day or look at social media and there is a radical Islam trying to kill us," the father of three said.

Parent Ryan Breece was so uncomfortable with assignments his daughter brought home, he talked with an administrator at Youth Middle School and got her opted out of some of the questions.

Now, he is concerned about other students.

"We are getting one watered down worksheet on Christianity when we see five worksheets on Islam. It's not equal and there is no over site for us to know it's equal," parent Ryan Breece complained.

Parent Breece said a couple of Walton County school officials have reached out to him and will meet to talk about the religious assignments this week.

Meantime, the district spokesperson said no teacher is trying to convert students and everything being taught is part of a 9-year-old state standards curriculum that includes Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.

"It is possible that since students are more familiar with the tenets of Christianity that they might need to spend more time on Islam because children know less about it," spokesperson Kim Embry of Walton county schools explained in regards to the allegation of inequities.

Breece 's meeting with school officials on Wednesday, is closed to the media.